Back supporting girdle



United States Patent Inventor Isabel Murray Bernfeld Allendale, New Jersey Appl. No. 729,571 Filed May 16, 1968 Patented Oct. 20, 1970 Assignee The Berger Bros. Company New Haven, Connecticut a corporation of Connecticut BACK SUPPORTING GIRDLE 1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 128/533, 128/5 67 Int. Cl A4lc 1/08 [50] Field of Search 128/5 30,

[ 5 6] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,402,643 1/1922 Newman 128/567 2,925,817 2/1960 Rogers 128/533 3,087,496 4/1963 Norman 128/579 3,1l5 88O 12/1963 Blair 128/567 Primary ExaminerAdele M. Eager A!t0rneyCharles E. Temko ABSTRACT: A high waist back supporting garment characterized in the provision of a plurality of stiffening members commencing at a point overlying the coccyx of a wearer, and extending radially outwardly to the upper edge of the garment, substantially overlying the waist of the wearer.

Patented Oct. 20, 1970 BACK SUPPORTING GIIIRlDlLE This invention relates generally to the field of women's figure control garments, and more particularly to an improved form of high waist back supporting girdle, particularly adapted for use by wearers who spend a large part of the wearing period in sitting condition.

It is among the principal objects of the present invention to provide a relatively lightweight girdle providing mild support to the lower back of the wearer, while in no way interfering with the comfort of the wearer while in a seated condition.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved back supporting garment of the class described which may include a plurality of stiffening members commencing at a portion approximately overlying the coccyx of the wearer, and extending radially outwardly and upwardly from that point to terminate in the upper edge of the garment overlying the waist of the wearer.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved back supporting garment adapted to provide improved gentle support to the wearer in the area beneath the rib cage on either side of the spine, without interferring with normal body movements in this area.

Still. another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved support garment which may be of relatively lightweight construction, permitting the comfortable wearing thereof in warm ambient temperatures.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved support garment. possessed of the above advantages, in which the cost of fabrication may be of a reasonably low order, directly comparable with existing prior art devices, thereby permitting consequent wide sale, distribu tion, and use.

A feature of the disclosed embodiment lies in the ready adaptability of the inventive structure for use either with panty type or open bottom type garments.

These objects and feature, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing. to which reference will be made in the specification. similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. it is a front elevational view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view thereof, partly broken away to show detail.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view as seen from the plane 4-4 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view as seen from the plane 5-5 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view as seen from the plane 6-6 in FIG. 3.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally in dicated by reference character 10, includes broadly: a lefthand lower peripheral panel II, a righthand lower peripheral panel 12, an outer left rear panel 13, an outer right rear panel 14, an inner left rear panel 15, an inner right rear panel 16, an upper resilient band member I7, a front panel 18, and a plurality of elongated stiffening members, generally indicated by reference character 19.

The left lower peripheral panel 11 is formed of elastic cor seting material, and is bounded by a continuous lower edge 22, a front vertical edge 23, a rear vertical edge 24, bordering edges and 26, and a continuous upper edge 27.

33, a vertical front ed e 39, and a curved lower edge dtl. Similarly. the outer mg I rear panel I4 and inner right rear panel to are interconnected to be bounded by an upper rectilinear edge 43, a vertical rear edge 44, a vertical front edge 45 and a curved lower edge M.

The upper resilient band member I7 is of relatively heavy elastic material, and bounded by an upper edge as interconnected to the upper edges 34 and 37, and a lower relatively free edge 50. The body of the member 17 is also intercom nected to the garment along the rear seam 5i, and at the vertical edges of the front panel 18.

The front panel I8 is formed of relatively nonelastic material, and is bounded by an upper edge 53. vertical side edges 54 and 55, and lower converging edges 56 and 57. A slide fastener 58 allows for the opening of the garment along the major portion of its length, to permit convenient donning and dofting of the same by a wearer.

The elongated stiffening members I) are best seen in FIGS. 2. 3 and (i, and are most conveniently five in number. As seen in FIG. 3. first, second, third. fourth and fifth members oil, 62, 63. M and 65, respectively, are formed of thin resilient synthetic resinous material, rather than conventional steels,

, and are enclosed in a felt casing portion 66 to be maintained by stitch means 68.

As seen in FIG. 2, the stitch means penetrates the inner and outer panels 13-15. and ll4-l6 and serves as a means of maintaining the same in overlying relation over a substantial area of the garment. Each of the members 6l65, inclusive terminates at the lower end thereof at closely spaced locations 69, all of which generally overlie the coccyx area of the wearer, and at upper locations 70 at the waist portion of the garment.

Thus, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the stiffening members clear the rear portions of the buttocks of the wearer, and allow complete flexibility of the garment in those areas which must flex upon the wearer assuming a seated position. While in such position, the supporting members add gentle support to that portion of the back of the wearer disposed below the rib cage, where the wearer is most likely to slump during extended periods in a seated posture.

Referring to FIGS. I and 5, where desired, additional stiffening means may be placed along the vertical edge 54 and adjacent the slide fastener 58, as indicated by reference character 59 to assist in maintaining the shape of the garment in the forward portion thereof.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

Iclaim:

ll. A back-supporting girdle comprising: a plurality of elastic panels interconnected to enclose the pelvic and lower back portions of the wearer, and a plurality of generally rectilinear stiffening members incorporated into said garment to be disposed in mutually upwardly diverging relation commencing at a point substantially overlying the coccyx of the wearer and extending radially from said point to terminate substantially at the waist portion thereof, at least one of said stiffening members overlying the spine of the wearer, said plurality of elastic panels having a continuous upper edge, and an elastic member interconnected to said panels at said upper edge. 

